After a year of political turmoil, Iraq has a new president. Will he be able to stabilize the government and unite the country?

Abdul Latif Rashid is the newly-elected president of Iraq. He has appointed Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as prime minister to establish a new administration within 30 days. Iraq is still reeling from last year’s civil unrest that erupted when parliament failed to form a cabinet causing a political deadlock.

The crisis was exacerbated after prominent politician Muqtada al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics following the resignation of 73 of his party members from parliament. Al-Sadr was the most recent lawmaker tasked with creating a government but didn’t succeed. Iraq now is looking for stability and security as the nation deals with inflation, drought and a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Joining the discussion: 

• Ahmed Rushdi is the president of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation.
• Edmund Ghareeb is a Middle East scholar and analyst. 
• Raed Jarrar is an Arab American political advocate. 
• Nahro Zagros is the Senior Fellow of the Kurdistan Program at the Gold Institute for International Strategy.

"How Iraq's politics have come full circle"

✍️ Opinion by @ialmarashihttps://t.co/4mvPU363Yn pic.twitter.com/a0KMFFx22l

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 21, 2022